![\"Argentina's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/malvinas-banner-1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nArgentina is at risk of being sanctioned by FIFA after its players celebrated with a Falkland Islands banner following its semi-final win over England on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
After the team\u2019s dramatic comeback victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso appeared on the field with a banner saying, \u201cLas Malvinas son Argentinas,\u201d which translates to \u201cThe Malvinas are Argentine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lo Celso held the banner, which appeared to have first been displayed by supporters in the crowd, with defender Nicolas Otamendi, only to then briefly put it away. He then laid it out on the pitch.<\/p>\n
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\n Argentina\u2019s Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso holding the banner (Thomas Coex \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), football\u2019s lawmakers, and FIFA have a clear stance on political flags, slogans and symbols being displayed.<\/p>\n
\u201cEquipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer\u2019s logo,\u201d IFAB\u2019s rulebook states.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor any offence the player and\/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is standard practice for FIFA to wait until the various match reports are submitted to it from the game before making any kind of decision.<\/p>\n
Once FIFA has received those reports, it will make an assessment and decide on what the next steps should be. There is no set timeframe for any decisions to be made<\/a>.<\/p>\n FIFA has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n \n The banner in the crowd as fans celebrated Argentina\u2019s win. (Reuters \/ Paul Childs)<\/p>\n \u2018Las Malvinas\u2019 is the term used in Argentina for the Falkland Islands, a British dependency which lies around 300 miles (480 km) off the east coast of mainland Argentina.<\/p>\n The dispute dates back to British invasions of Argentina in the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century<\/a>. Britain initially claimed the Falklands in 1774 and reasserted its rule in 1832. In 1982, Argentina\u2019s military government invaded in an attempt to take the territory from the United Kingdom. The conflict lasted from April 2 to June 14 and ended with an Argentine surrender. In all, three civilians, 255 British and 649 Argentine troops died.<\/p>\n If the banner unfurled is deemed to be political in nature, it would also contravene FIFA\u2019s stadium code of conduct.<\/p>\n \u201cAny materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and\/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds,\u201d FIFA\u2019s list of prohibited items reads.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/malvinas-flag-crowd.jpg\")
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